wektis

Hi all,

I'll start by letting you all know I'm based in Australia, so apart from the internet I'm a little restricted in my research.

I recently purchased what I believed to be an 83 Trans Am Pace Car edition. However when researching the vehicles VIN online, every site I found declared it to be an 1984 6 cylinder s/e.

My confusion is that the 305ci V8 engine number matches the last few digits of the VIN.

The VIN is 1G2AX87L3EL255492

The Engine # is 38L255492 (8 may be an "e", the stamping is a little difficult to read)

I am posting here hoping that someone is able to clarify the situation for me?

Thanks.
John.

simo

Your VIN Decodes As Follows

1G2AX87L3EL255492

1 USA

G General Motors

2 Pontiac

A Manual Seat Belts

X Firebird S/E
(W would be for the Trans Am)

87 2 Door Coupe

L 173 ci V6 2 bbl HO (1984)
(Motors for the 1983 were H for the LG4 Carbed and S for the Cross Fire)

3 Check Digit

E Model Year 1984
(D would be for a 1983 Pace Car)

L Van Nuys
(N for Norwood would be for a 1983 Pace Car as there were no 1983 Pace Cars built in Van Nuys)

255492 Last 6 – Production Sequence Number
(I have not found a Production Sequence Number this high for a 1983 Pace Car)

lazey8

Are you sure its not a replica

wektis

Thanks for the responses, those details are what I came up with as well Simo, I was wondering if you had any ideas on why the 305 v8 engine number matches the VIN of the car?

Thanks.

simo

It could have been restamped by someone.

wektis

Thanks again, its kinda obvious, I just didn't wanna say it out loud in the hopes it wasn't true

The pics you included in your post, are they of the 84 S/E?

John.

simo

No, two different RHD 1983 Daytona Pace Cars.

yo soy el warg

Wektis, does your car have a locking gas lid? I think that only the Firebired SE had that feature as part of the SE package. This is a relatively rare feature and would point toward your car being a V6 SE model over a Trans Am.

JT

iTrader: (1)

As the 5th digit is an X, that indicates the S/E Firebird. As Simo points out, the Trans Am would have had a W for the 5th digit.

simo

The 1983 Pace Cars had the locking gas door cover and both of my 1984 15th Anniversary cars have them as well.

wektis

Hi again,

Yes the car has a locking petrol (silly Americans ) cap.

JT

iTrader: (1)

As Simo points out, the locking fuel door (N09) was available (optional) on the Firebird and Trans Am while it was standard on the S/E.

navy02ws6

Any way to figure out if the car was originally produced for export? Not sure about the '83 model year, but I know they did WEIRD things with the 91-92 export T/A's as far as downgrading standard T/A features like the TPI engine and specific taillights...

3rdgenparts

iTrader: (8)

*error

3rdgenparts

iTrader: (8)

Ya,

According to your VIN,It's just a 1984 Firebird S/E nothing more mate


Dave

okfoz

I would definitely be up for some pictures... Sounds like you should take someone to court.

The car has been misrepresented AND manipulated. I know in the US it is a crime to change the VIN or the identifying numbers on an engine block...

lazey8

I have to agree its amazing someone would go that far to make a extra buck

okfoz

What does your Title state... Not sure about in Australia, but in the US they have the Year, make & Model on the title...